Machine for forming pre-molded blocks



Sept. 26,1967 3,343,238

I MACHINE FOR FORMING PRE-MOL-DED BLOCKS I Filed Sept. 1, 1.964 3 '2 Sheets-.Sheet l F/a/ f V lNVENTOR RICARDO cos JUN/0k BY Y Y I ATTORNEYS Sept. 26, 1967 I (:05 JUNIOR 3,343,238

' MACHINE FOR'FORMING PRE-MOLDED BLOCKS Filed'Sept. 1, 1964 QSheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RICA R00 605 JUN/0A BY 7L 6 4., M 0w ATTORNEYS United States Patent MACHINE FOR FORMING PRE-MOLDED BLOCKS Ricardo Coe Junior, Avenida Goncalves Junior 342, Sorocaba, Brazil Filed Sept. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 393,503 Claims priority, application Brazil, Oct. 10, 1963, 153,288 2 Claims. (Cl. 25-41) This invention relates in general to block forming machines and in particular to a new and useful machine for forming concrete blocks.

The present invention provides improvements in casting mold apparatus in order to increase its functional value and embodies improved features resulting from studies and observations carried out in the experimentation and use of said similar known apparatus.

'The studies and observations set forth the need for correction of a number of defects and deficiencies, leading to a higher industrial yield and a better finish of the premolded block or brick.

In the known machine, for example, the block was not pressed, the mass being simply vibration molded. This resulted in the block becoming porous, without an adequate consistency.

The present invention embodies improved features whereby the brick or block, besides being compressed also undergoes vibration, thus becoming a more homogeneous and compact body and being unquestionably improved.

Another improvement lies in the fact that the vibration action is transferred from the outside of the molding box to its inside. The vibration is no longer applied from the outside, but is applied to act from the interior outwardly, causing a more perfect compacting and imparting more solidity to the block.

There is a further improvement to be considered: in the previous machine the block was removed from its mold by hand, whereas this operation is now carried out mechanically by means of an eccentric device. Thus the block is now less likely to be broken when withdrawn from the mold.

Still another considerable improvement introduced is the arrangement of a metal plate dividing the mold so as to allow the simultaneous casting of two blocks, one in each half of said mold, said plate being pulled out automatically along with the top or lid of the mold.

The machine improved according to the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partly in section showing the vibrator lowered, the pressing member raised and the mold rotated outwards;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side elevational views partly in section of the mold after rotation to the position indicated in FIG. 1 and after separation of the molded concrete block therefrom, respectively;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view partly in section showing the machine with its vibrator raised, the pressing member lowered and the mold closed;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are partial end elevational views showing the arrangement of the vertical plate or septum which doubles the molding capacity, and its operation.

The machine is mounted on a table or support 1 formed by metal rods. An internal vibrating mold 2 which is actuated by motor 3 is centrally located on the frame 1. The mold 2 can be vertically raised by means of an articulate lever system 4 having actuating arm or handle 5. Vibrating mold 2 and its motor 3 are mounted on a horizontal arm ending in sleeves 6 which are slidably mounted on vertical rods. The upward and downward movement of the mold 2 is controlled by said lever systern which may be pivoted to raise the assemblage to a position wherein the vibrating mold becomes centrally disposed in relation to the external mold. As shown in FIG. 4, the vibrating mold 2 penetrates the external mold via an opening (not shown) at the bottom.

The external mold is formed by three vertical walls 7, disposed at right angles. In the molding position the side without a wall abuts against a fixed vertical wall or abutment 8 extending upwardly from two horizontal side rails 9. Another wall 10 forms the bottom of said mold, having cut therein the opening for the vibrating mold 2. The three side walls 7 join bottom 10 along an angular line; along the middle section of said angular line there is an intermediate circular member 11 which rotates around an eccentric axle and has a radial handle. Rotation of the eccentric member 11 pushes forward side walls 7, separating them from bottom 10.

A last top wall or lid 12 is fixed to a tray framework 13 which is pivoted on the frame 1 on a pivot bolt or hinge 14 so as to be angularly movable towards or away from the system. On said framework 13 a weight 15 is slidably mounted on rollers and rails on the framework 13 to permit it to slide by gravity between two butts 16 and 17. The rocking or angular movement of framework 13 forms a chute and weight 15 sliding along it facilitates or accentuates its inclination and weighsdown lid 12 fixed under said framework. This action which can also be obtained through automatic means or, in this example, by manual action on handle 18. It will be clearly understood that when handle 18 is raised weight 15 will slide by gravity, accentuating the elevation of framework 13 and lifting lid 12 away from the mold. When the handle 18 is lowered the weight 15 will slide back, pressing lid 12 onto the mold, as shown in FIG. 4.

The operation of the machine for forming the premolded block is the following: The mold is set up by placing the edges of side walls 7 against fixed wall 8. The vibrating mold 2 is raised by the action of articulate levers 4 through hand-actuated handle 5 and the vibrating mold is inserted within the external mold, its bottom fitting into the corresponding opening at the bottom wall 10. The material is poured into the top of the external mold being kept within side walls 7, fixed wall 8, bottom Wall 10 and vibrator 3. Lid 12 closes the top of the mold, being pressed down by weight 15 which slides back down the rails 13 when handle 18 is lowered. The vibrator is actuated combining its action with that of pressing lid 12, the mass of material being thus pressed and made compact. After the material sets and hardens, it is removed by lifting of lid 12 and lowering of vibrator 3. The block is then angularly turned over around eccentric roll 11 and comes to rest on its central side wall which now becomes the supporting horizontal wall. Turning of eccentric roll 11 pushes away said bottom wall which now stands vertically, thus freeing the molded block which slides on the side wall on which it now rests, with no danger of breakage.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein the further improvement introduced comprises a double set of internal vibrating molds which forms two hollows in the molded block, the bottom wall of the external mold being correspondingly constructed. In such case there will be two openings for access of the two vibrators and a metal plate 19 will separate the chamber into two parts. The plate 19 is fixed by hinge and pivot pin to the top lid 12. The plate 19 will be lifted with the lid. The other features are similar to the other embodiment.

The drawings illustrate an ideal embodiment of the improved invention, it being understood, however, that constructional variations can be introduced within the same principles, once they are functionally equivalent and encompassed in the scope of the invention as defined by the following.

I claim:

1. A machine for forming substantially rectangularly sectioned hollow blocks comprising a supporting frame, a vibratory mold member with a body portion of a configuration of a hollow of the part to be molded, means for vibrating said mold member carried by said mold member, wall means forming a substantially rectangularly sectioned mold having an open top and a bottom opening in alignment with said body portion of a size to be closed by said body portion when the latter is inserted therein, means mounting said vibratory mold member permitting insertion and removal of said body portion into and out of the bottom opening of said mold, and cover means for closing the top of said mold and for applying a downward force on the material being molded in said mold, said wall means forming said mold comprising a bottom and a first side wall with an eccentrically mounted cylindrical pivotal member formed therebetween, and a fixed wall defining a second side wall of said mold, said first side and bottom wall being displaceable upon eccentric rotational movement of said cylindrical member in one direction to present said bottom in alignment with the bottom edge of said second wall for filling said mold, and

being displaceable away from said second wall upon eccentric rotational movement of said cylindrical member in an opposite direction to expose a side and a top of the molded article for removal from said mold.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said wall means includes a plate separating said mold, said plate being connected to said cover for removal from said mold when said cover is removed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 531,237 12/1894 Walsh 25-121 838,278 12/1906 Schwartz 25-41.5

965,350 7/1910 Wert 25-415 2,528,084 10/1950 Sand 2541.5 2,544,453 3/1951 Gaudin 25-41 2,663,063 12/1953 Van Loon 25-30 2,831,231 4/1958 Toensing 249 3,201,843 8/1965 Osweiler 25-41 FOREIGN PATENTS 710,388 6/1931 France.

I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

G. A. KAP, R. D. BALDWIN, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A MACHINE FOR FORMING SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULARLY SECTIONED HOLLOW BLOCKS COMPRISING A SUPPORTING FRAME, A VIBRATORY MOLD MEMBER WITH A BODY PORTION OF A CONFIGURATION OF A HOLLOW OF THE PART TO BE MOLDED, MEANS FOR VIBRATING SAID MOLD MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID MOLD MEMBER, WALL MEANS FORMING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULARLY SECTIONED MOLD HAVING AN OPEN TOP AND A BOTTOM OPENING IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID BODY PORTION OF A SIZE TO BE CLOSED BY SAID BODY PORTION WHEN THE LATTER IS INSERTED THEREIN, MEANS MOUNTING SAID VIBRATORY MOLD MEMBER PERMITTING INSERTION AND REMOVAL OF SAID BODY PORTION INTO AND OUT OF THE BOTTOM OPENING OF SAID MOLD, AND COVER MEANS FOR CLOSING THE TOP OF SAID MOLD AND FOR APPLYING A DOWNWARD FORCE ON THE MATERIAL BEING MOLDED IN SAID MOLD, SAID WALL MEANS FORMING SAID MOLD COMPRISING A BOTTOM AND A FIRST SIDE WALL WITH AN ECCENTRICALLY MOUNTED CYLINDRICAL PIVOTAL MEMBER FORMED THEREBETWEEN, AND A FIXED WALL DEFINING A SECOND SIDE WALL OF SAID MOLD, SAID FIRST SIDE AND BOTTOM WALL BEING DISPLACEABLE UPON ECCENTRIC ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER IN ONE DIRECTION TO PRESENT SAID BOTTOM IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID SECOND WALL FOR FILLING SAID MOLD, AND BEING DISPLACEABLE AWAY FROM SAID SECOND WALL UPON ECCENTRIC ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID CYLINDRICAL MEMBER IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO EXPOSE A SIDE AND A TOP OF THE MOLDED ARTICLE FOR REMOVAL FROM SAID MOLD. 